Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Many people struggle with choosing songs for sports day, don’t they?

Here, we introduce perfect tracks for each scene—from classic staples ideal for sports day to upbeat J-pop and Western hits that get everyone excited!

Well-known songs can hype up the crowd, but using the same ones every year can get old…

We’ve curated a selection of tracks to solve that problem.

You’ll find refreshing tunes that make you want to start running and motivational anthems that give you courage.

Use this article as a guide to make your sports day even more fun and exciting!

Disney Songs (1–10)

BarararararararaTōkyō Dizunī Rizōto

[Barararararara] ~An easy dance you can do from age 5!~

BarararararararaTōkyō Dizunī Rizōto

The happy dance using the “balalalalalala” song from Baymax is bright and perfect for kids to perform at events like sports days.

It’s recommended to let the children listen to the song beforehand so they get used to it, then incorporate it into the dance.

By coordinating costumes and making pompoms to add flair, the children’s performance will look even more vibrant and become an ideal dance for a sports day.

Teachers and kids alike—make it a cheerful, fun dance full of smiles!

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It’s a Small WorldThe Sherman Brothers

[Official] It's a Small World / Tokyo Disneyland

It's a Small WorldThe Sherman Brothers

A song created as the theme for Disneyland’s signature attraction, “it’s a small world.” Its catchy melody perfectly matches the concept of riding a boat and traveling around countries across the globe.

With colorful children’s choral parts ringing out, it’s also great for kindergarten and elementary school sports days.

It’s a lively Disney tune that’s fun to enjoy just by stepping in time or clapping along to the brisk rhythm.

Try dancing to this ageless number that kids and adults alike can enjoy!

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Under the SeaSebasuchan C

Samuel E. Wright – Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) (Official Video)

Under the SeaSebasuchan C

“Under the Sea” from the 1989 film The Little Mermaid is a song characterized by Latin rhythms.

There are choreography tutorial videos on YouTube, which makes it easy for everyone to practice together—another great point.

Also, because the tempo is relatively slow, it might be easy to incorporate as a dance for young children, such as in kindergartens and preschools.

That said, its Latin vibe that naturally lifts your spirits seems like it would fit any event!

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A New AngleTōkyō Dizunīrando Beimakkusu

[High-Quality Audio/High-Quality Video] Big Hero 6 Baymax Big Brother Edition – Tokyo Disneyland The Happy Ride with Baymax: A New Angle

A New AngleTōkyō Dizunīrando Beimakkusu

There are six songs played on the popular attraction “The Happy Ride with Baymax,” each available in three versions: with dialogue, without dialogue, and instrumental.

They’re available for streaming and on CD.

“A New Angle” is also a catchy track, and its lyrics—suggesting new possibilities like “If you spin around and look, you’ll discover a new way of seeing”—are really cool! If you were to choreograph a dance to this song, adding lots of jumps and occasionally swinging your arms wide to the left and right could make it really fun.

It’s a perfect recommendation for younger elementary students, too.

And it’s also great as background music to create a lively mood during recreation time!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Living in ColorChantry Johnson and Dewain Whitmore

Tokyo Disney Resort® – 40th Anniversary Theme Song “Living in Color”

Living in ColorChantry Johnson and Dewain Whitmore

This song, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort, invites listeners into a vibrantly colorful world.

Its pop, energetic style captures the very sparkle of a Disney parade.

With K-pop influences woven in, it’s crafted to appeal to a wide range of ages.

It’s also perfect for school sports day dances.

When kids wave flags as they dance, the whole venue is sure to come together in excitement.

Why not learn the choreography and practice for the big day?

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Dreaming UpTokyo Dizunīrando

[With Lyrics] Dreaming Up! Lyric — 35th Anniversary Parade

Dreaming UpTokyo Dizunīrando

Created as the main song for the daytime parade commemorating Tokyo Disneyland’s 35th anniversary, this piece features a bright, dreamlike sound that blends an electropop base with Disney’s signature touch of fantasy.

The parade weaves in beloved tunes from popular films such as Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, earning strong support from families and Disney fans alike.

As the centerpiece of such a program, this track is also perfect for school sports days and recreational events.

How about jumping into a dreamlike adventure together?

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Disney Songs (11–20)

Your wish makes the world shine.MISIA

[Whether you can hear or not] MISIA – Your Wish Makes the World Shine [Danceable Dance Studio @ Tokyo]

Your wish makes the world shine.MISIA

Among Disney fans, the question that always comes up is: “Are you Team Land or Team Sea?” Of course, the punchline is that you can’t pick just one.

“Believe! Sea of Dreams,” held at Mediterranean Harbor in Tokyo DisneySea, is a popular nighttime show.

Its featured insert song is “Your Wish Lights Up the World.” The grand, sweeping quality typical of MISIA’s ballads fits this show perfectly.

It would be ideal as background music for a pyramid formation at an elementary school sports day, and it also works well as BGM for performance-style presentations by upper-grade students.

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